If you don't like the combat, you're doing it wrong

[Maydawn]

Another tip: don't attack too much. If you keep spamming fast attack you'll end up either blocked and stunned, or out of range ! 1-4 times, depending on what or who you're fighting. Learn when to stop and re-evaluate the situation, don't think you can hack away by spamming attacks and win easily

 

[Cotchorama]

Haha np Elloimjoe, I'll never forget just how good the combat is in TW2, which also translates to TW3 but just how much i HATED tw2 when I didn't understand the combat. For the longest time I couldn't see how people would like that game, while I thought at the time the combat was HORRIBLE.

Your OP fits in with my experience to a TEE such that i HAD to share my experience lol.

 

[SofaJockey]

I'm so pleased there is no floating '!' to indicate a foe is about to hit you.
Combat is tough, and there is no sense in standing in the middle of a pack of foes, as they won't just watch politely.

Or take the difficulty down a level (or two)

 

[Svensonia]

This combat system is less forgiving than the system in Dark Souls... even if you doge a hit... you can be hit by you enemy... I like it^^ You really have to plan how you encounter different enemies.

 

[Clownygrin]

Yes this all the way. I LOVE this games combat system. I'm actually sad because I want more combat but I can't find enough enemies to consistently enjoy the fighting xD. But I love it so much

 

[frasch]

OP is absolutely rightI love the combat

 

[whiplash27]

I think for me, I'm just still trying to learn the combat system. I'm definitely not as good as the guys around here who are throwing in Insane play throughs in TW2 like it's no problem. I usually played on Dark mode and would have certain parts of the game where I'd get killed over and over. Either way I think TW3 will prove to have much deeper combat. I think it's also much more difficult at the beginning of the game. I can imagine that as I progress further it'll get a bit easier to deal with enemies. Drowners and wraiths have been my end so many times in this game so far. Driving me crazy.

 

[BloodyWitcher]

I'm not going to say people who don't enjoy the combat are doing it wrong. But I think it's great. Especially playing on DM difficulty. You really have to think about what you're doing and stay on your toes. Even now after like 25 plus hours of play I'm learning new things. Just learned about gas clouds. And trying to master fighting Igni vulnerable drowners in a dark cave where I can't pull out my torch for fear of blowing my self up is taking a while.

Lesser games would have just made gas clouds just react to your Igni. Nvm your torch as well. Which just adds another layer to the combat. Time to mix some Cat.

Any game that makes me seriously weigh up my options when crossing paths with an enemy is doing something right in my book.

 

[BurningVigor]

Combat is perfect. The evolution of combat from Witcher 1 to now is amazing. I actually feel like a witcher in this game.

 

[Gothfather]

Here is yet another post of Pro tips.

Learn to "dodge" range attacks my moving only aka not using the dodge or leap buttons. never run straight at a Group of ranged mobs. Always move in on them at an angle, Yes it means it takes longer to reach them and if they are unaware of you, you might lose surprise but so often a ranged user you haven't seen is watching you approach and your first realization he's seen you is the arrow in your chest. By moving in a zig zag pattern you make it harder for the enemy to aim and you can just walk out of the path of many shots.When you get close leap forward and strike they will not have their melee weapon out in time if you leap towards them when close to leap distance apart.

The Bestiary is your FRIEND, Do memorize it. Learn what creatures are vulnerable to what. OILS, your swords should ALWAYS be covered in oil. It never runs out so keep applying it to your weapons. Practise drawing out a single enemy from groups, save before a group combat and get to know how to lure different creatures from their pack. Drowners are really easy to lure and you can get one isolated for an easy igni + sword kill.

Combined arms are greater than the sum of it's parts, Starting combat off with a crossbow bolt or a bomb, then hitting the advancing enemy with a sign followed by attacks with an oiled sword is far better than just a dedicated sign attack or sword attack. (Talking about tactics here not character builds). Damaging enemies with combined attacks breaks up their advance allowing you to maintain the initiative. By breaking off in the middle of a combat you can regroup and set off another flurry of combined attacks to further disrupt the enemy and more often then not you will finish off an enemy or two making any group far more manageable with this second "start of combat" You don't need to break out of combat mode to regroup either.

Concentrated attacks, all things being equal it is better to strike an injure opponent than an uninjured one, killing a mob weakens the whole group. Don't spread your damage over the whole group. Now the the contradictory advise, do not get target fixated that you forget about the rest of the enemies. Sometimes an uninjured mob gives you an opening exploit it! Sometimes you need to attack to force an enemy to back off so you don't get surrounded. So while concentrating your attacks on one mob is IDEAL do not blindly follow that advise let the situation dictate you targets.

Do not spam sword attacks. You need to let up on sword attacks to use your signs and a well place sign attack can finish off an enemy that would have required multiple sword strikes. So be use to using sign attacks in between sword attacks. Wolves are not that scary when you are one fast hit + igni killing them. Putting up Quen in the middle of a aggressive attack against an off guard enemy can keep you safe from flank attacks of the group. Being able to pause you sword attacks to cast it and resume your aggressive attacks can allow you to finish off a more powerful mob in a group like a bandit leader or warg without taking damage even though you are exposed. It is a skill that requires practise so try to learn how to do it in the prologue.


Practise. It takes practise to pull off some of these tips. I still struggle with some of these tips as combat can get exciting and knowing that to do doesn't always equate into doing. On harder difficulties be prepared to learn these skills by trial and error which means dying. Anyone that tells you they never die playing Death march is a teenager with self esteem issues that can't allow themselves to admit they fail.

Hopefully these tips are helpful for people.

 

[Firecracker22]

Honestly, some of the complaints I'd read in some reviews before release almost seem disingenuous to me now. I'd read complaints in some reviews, ie: Polygon's, and things being said were like the combat being too easy, too much stamina, boring, not engaging, and too easy, and that fans of The Witcher 2's combat were going to be disappointed.

I loved the combat in Witcher 2, and the combat in Witcher 3 is awesome. It's like the next level of Witcher 2's combat. The combat is definitely on par with Witcher 2's, if not better.

And this is an age of gaming where anyone whose played most games will know that you need to kick up the difficulty on Halo games, Gears of Wars games, Call of Duty games, etc. with the understanding that Normal is the new Easy, allowing gamers to play on an easy difficulty who are probably just new to any given franchise. So, a reviewer somehow not considering that you need to bump the difficulty sounds fishy to me.

 

[Gothfather]

/SNIP
So, a reviewer somehow not considering that you need to bump the difficulty sounds fishy to me.

Any review of combat that doesn't change difficulties to assess combat is incomplete and bad journalism.

 

[cyberpunkforever]

i don't like the combat because i can't change the controls settings!

 

[Gothfather]

i don't like the combat because i can't change the controls settings!

Are you playing with a controller? Because I was able to change my keybinds on PC with no problems.

 

[elloimjoe]

More great tips Gothfather, your additions are appreciated =)

Also I agree with you completely Firecracker, I feel most review sites try to plow their way through games to get reviews up as soon as possible, instead of actually experiencing the game how it's meant to be played.

The controls make sense to me, however I'm playing with a One controller. Not traditional with most games, but seems very well thought out. Can't speak for the PS4 controls though.

 

[roizumaaku]

I like the combat since Witcher 1. The Dodge is awesome and improved. I am playing in Blood and Broken Bones Mode.

 

[Bluren]

After playing 15 hours with the game in Blood and broken mode (Hard), I realised that the dogde button isn't just good for dodging but also for canceling attacks. Once you implement this, the combat feels so much better, more fluid and makes geralt pretty badass. As it doesn't use stamina, you can cancel a lot of moves in a row and try to finish your opponents quicker. The roll is good as well to cancel vs big monsters because of their reach.

Carefull to not over use it as sometimes you can get hit. But against multiple groups it is really effective and add this with signs like Quen, Aard, bombs and potions, it will become much easier to deal with enemies in higher difficulty and the combat just becomes really dynamic.

I think people who complain about the combat system have either not played long enough or are playing it in easy mode. That's why it's always better to play this game on higher difficulty because it forces you to learn the combat mechanic much faster and it becomes more satisfying.

 

[Kaldurenik]

My core problem is the auto lock.

 

[chiconspiracy]

The combat isn't that hard, even on the higher difficulty settings. You can use roll and dodge very effectively to handle pretty much any enemy, and reposte/counterattack human enemies to death. The only annoying bit is you can't change what type of attack you use do beyond fast or slow. You can do a fast stabbing animation that hits quickly and has good range, but it only works if you attack one direction with your slow looping swing, and then immediately attack the opposite direction. It would be nice to be able to control things like that a bit more, so i can swing against multiple weak enemies instead of stabbing one in half (this can happen when you stab them, lol) or choose to stab a dangerous enemy and disengage instead of doing a slow spinning leap that will get you hit.

 

[Versatile1983]

That's not true, you can change direction of your swings.